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BOOOOM!
The final Leviathan exploded above New York, reduced to molten metal and ash by my [Heavenflame Meteor – Lv.1512]. The war was over. Loki had been captured. The portal above the city closed.
But even as the Avengers gathered in the aftermath, one question lingered on everyone's mind:
Who was the man that changed the tide of battle?
---
Stark Tower, Rooftop – 1 Hour Later
I stood quietly, gazing at the city below. My undead army had vanished. My magic field slowly dissipated. Wanda sat beside me, staring at her hands—still glowing faintly with chaotic red magic.
"Is this what real power feels like?" she whispered.
I glanced at her. "This is only the beginning."
Behind us, Natasha stepped out of the shadows. Her hair was tied back, suit stained with dust and blood, but her eyes were sharp—and warmer than earlier.
"SHIELD's in chaos," she said, arms crossed. "They're trying to trace you. They can't. Fury's furious."
I smirked. "Good. The less they know, the safer we are."
She stared at me for a moment. "You knew everything. You fought like a god. You saved civilians and crushed Chitauri like paper. And yet, no one saw you in the final battle. You erased yourself from the footage."
[Skill: Universal Stealth – Lv.1601]
"That's right," I said. "I don't want fame. Just control."
Natasha took a step closer. "And Wanda? You're keeping her close."
I looked over at the redhead, who had dozed off beside me, her magic curling around her like a protective cocoon.
"She's special," I said softly. "She's like me—unwritten by fate."
[Affection +15: Natasha Romanoff – Curious Jealousy]
Natasha sighed. "You're too powerful, too mysterious, and now you've got the girl with reality-warping powers sleeping on your shoulder."
She leaned against the railing. "So… where does that leave me?"
I turned to her slowly. Our eyes met.
"You're the one who walked into a collapsing building with no backup," I said. "You didn't run when you saw my power. That says enough."
[Affection +25: Natasha Romanoff – Connection Deepening]
She raised an eyebrow. "And what about other women who might show up? I'm guessing you're not the monogamous type."
I chuckled. "I don't chase anyone. But if they come to me willingly… I won't push them away."
Natasha stared at me for a long moment.
Then, surprisingly, she smiled.
"I hate how honest that was," she said, stepping forward. "But I like that too."
And then—she kissed me.
Just a moment. A test. A tease.
When she pulled back, she said, "Don't make me regret this."
I smiled. "You won't."
---
[System Alert: Harem Progression – Natasha Romanoff: Kiss Confirmed (Emotional Trust: Stable)]
[System Alert: Skill Increase +6,000 Levels | Time Passed: 7 hrs, 18 mins]
[Note: SHIELD is tracking magical energy spikes. Kamar-Taj has dispatched a watcher.]
---
Far away, in the shadows of the Sanctum, a man in a red cloak floated in meditation.
Doctor Stephen Strange opened his eyes.
"He's not supposed to exist," he muttered. "But now that he does… we have to find him."
---